Card holder



J. J. DUREC Nov. 10, 1959 CARD HOLDER Filed March. 30, 1959 INVENTOR. Jack Jflarec,

United States Patent CARD HOLDER- Jack J. Durec, Chicago, Ill Application March 30, 1959, Serial No. 802,841

8 Claims. (Cl. 211-51) The present invention relates to a holder for displaying and supporting a stack of cards, suchas business cards, in such manner that anyone may readily remove one of the cards without disturbing the others.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved card holder which is adapted to resiliently grip a stack of cards supported therein While permitting ready removal of one of the cards.

While the foregoing statements are indicative in a general way of the nature of the invention other more specific objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a full understanding of the construction, arrangement and function of'the several parts which have been combined to form the card holder.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is presented herein but it will, of course, be appreciated that the invention is susceptible of incorporation in other forms coming equally within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the card holder;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the base member ofthe card holder;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the same;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the card supporting member;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the same; 1

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical section taken generally on the line 77 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken generally on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

The card holder 10, which contains a stack 11 of cards 12, i.e. typical business cards, includes a base member 13, a card-supporting member 14 and a spring 15. The base member 13 and the card-supporting member 14 may be advantageously formed of a suitable plastic, as by a molding operation, but it will of course be appreciated that the base member and the card-supporting member may be made in other ways and also of other materials, for example, sheet metal.

The base member 13 is characterized by a front wall 16, side walls 17, a rear wall 18 and a specially formed top wall 19 which extends rearwardly from the front wall 16 for approximately two-thirds the distance to the'rear wall 18. The top wall 19 includes a generally horizontal front portion 20, an angularly disposed or inclined portion 21 which extends upwardly and rearwardly from the front portion 20, and an angularly disposed or inclined portion 22 which extends downwardly and rearwardly from the upper edge of the inclined portion 21. The lower and rearmost edge of the inclined portion 22 terminates generally in the same horizontal plane as the front portion 20 of the top wall 19'and forwardly of the rear wall 18 whereby to provide a generally rectangular open area 23 in front of the rear wall.

The two angularly disposed portions 21 and 22' of the top wall 19 define an inverted V. .The upper edges of the forwa'rd portions of the side walls 17 are flush with the side edges of the horizontal front portion 20 and the angularly disposed portion 21 of the top Wall 19. The upper edges of the rear portions of the side walls 17 extend rearwardly in a generally horizontal direction from the uppermost edge of the V-shaped portion of the top wall 19 and are preferably gently curved downwardly at the rear until they join the rear wall 18. The reason why the top edges of the rear portions of the side walls 17 are made flush with or at the same height as the uppermost edge of the V-shaped portionof the'top" wall 19 will be evident hereinafter.

A pair of generally horizontal guide members 25 are disposed one on the inner surface of each of the side walls 17. The guide members 25 extend forwardly from the rear wall 18 at least as far as the rearmost edge of the angularly disposed portion 22 of the top Wall 19 and are positioned slightly below the same edg of the angularly disposed portion 22.

The card supporting member 14 is characterized by a. generally fiat portion 27 having a length slightly less than the distance between the side walls 17 of the base member 13 whereby it is supportable on the horizontal guide members 25 for slidable movement forwardly and rearwardly of the base member 13. The Width of the flat portion 27 is sufficient to fully extend across the open area 23 of the base member 13 when the card-supporting member 14 is in its rearmost position. The cardsupporting member 14 is further characterized by a narrowed portion 28 which depends from the rear edge of the portion 27 downwardly between the guide members 25 and an angularly disposed portion 29 which extends upwardly and forwardly from the rear edge of the portion 27 through the open area 23 of the base member 13. For the moment, it is sufficient to state that the angularly disposed portion 29 of the card-supporting member 14 extends approximately parallel to the angularly disposed portion 22 of the top wall 19 of the base member 13 with the dimension along the incline thereof being approximately twice the corresponding dimension of the angularly disposed portion 22 whereby the angularly disposed portion 29 of the card-supporting member projects above the V-shaped portion of the top wall 19 of the base member.

With the card-supporting member 14 movable forwardly and rearwardly of the base member 13 on the guide members 25, anadjustable pocket is formed to receive the stack 11 of cards 12 with the lower edges of the cards 12 being supported on the horizontally extending portion 27 of the card-supporting member'14. The four sides of the card-receiving pocket are provided by the two side walls 17 and the angularly disposed portion 22 of the base member 13 and by the angularly disposed portion 29 of the card-supporting member 14. Preferably, the angularly disposed portion 29 of the card supporting member 14 is approximately the same size as the cards 12 whereby the upper edge of the portion 29 may have a forwardly bent flange 31 adapted to fit over the upper edges of the rearmost cards in the stack 11. Approximately the upper halves of the cards 12 will therefore project above the V-shaped portion of the top wall 19 of the base member 13 whereby to'readily permit anyone to remove the front card from the stack 11.

,The spring 15 is connected between a bracket 33 formed on the inner surface of the front wall 16 of the base member 13 and a bracket 34 formed on the front surface of the depending portion 28 of the card-supporting member 14 whereby the card-supporting member is biased toward the front of the base member 13. The lower portions of the cards 12 are therefore resiliently gripped between the angularly disposed portion 22 of the top wall 19 of the base member 13 and the angularly V disposed portion. 29 of the card-supporting member 14.-

To provide an improved gripping action on the stack of cards in the pocket whereby the stack 11 is gripped more tightly adjacent" the lower portion thereof, the; angularly disposed portion 29 of the cardesupportingrnember 14 diverges slightly in an upward direction away from the angularly disposed portion 22 of the top wall 19 of the base member 13. For example, if the angularly disposed portion 22 is formed at an angle of 60 to a horizontal plane, the card-supporting member 14 should be formed so that the portion 29 thereof is disposed at an angle of 65 to the horizontal plane.

A pair of rearwardly and inwardly turned flange members 36 may be formed one on each side edge of the angularly disposed portion 29 of the card-supporting member 14 whereby to receive a card-like calendar on the rear surface of the angularly disposed portion 29 of the card-supporting member 14. The card holder disclosed herein may thus be placed on a desk with the cards available to anyone approaching the desk from the front and with a calendar facing a person seated behind the desk.

The card-supporting member 14: may be easily assem bled to the base member 13 by tilting it forwardly and inserting the flat portion 27 between the lower edge of the angularly disposed portion 22 of the top wall 19 of the base member 13 and the guide members 25 after which the card-supporting member is simultaneously moved forwardly and tilted rearwardly until the flat portion 27 is slidably supported on the guide members or ledges 25, sufiicient clearance being provided for this assembly operation. The spring is then connected between the brackets 33 and 34 to complete the assembly operation. Likewise, it is a simple operation to disassemble the card-supporting member 14 on the base member 13.

Either portion or 21, or both, of the top wall 19 of the base member 13 is suitable to receive names, such as corporate names, or other desired information or legends by means of either an embossing operation or separate labels applied thereto.

I claim:

1. A card holder comprising, a base member having front, rear and side walls, a top wall extending rearwardly from the front wall and characterized by a downwardly extending portion which terminates forwardly of the rear wall, whereby to provide an open area immediately in front of the rear wall, a pair of substantially horizontal guide members which are disposed on the inner surfaces of the side walls below the lower edge of said downwardly extending portion of the top wall, a card supporting member which is approximately the same width as said base member, said supporting member having a substantially horizontal portion which is slidably supported on said guide members and another portion which extends upwardly from the rear edge of said horizontal portion through said open area of said base member, said upwardly extending portion being approximately parallel to said downwardly extending portion of the top wall of said base member, and means resiliently urging said card-supporting member toward the front'wall of said base member whereby a stack of cards which is adapted to be supported on the horizontal portion of said card-supporting member will be resiliently gripped between said approximately .parallel portions of said base member and said card-supporting member.

2. A card holder as recited in claim 1 wherein said approximately parallel portions of said base member and said card-supporting member diverge slightly away from each other in an upward direction whereby .the stack of cards will be resiliently gripped somewhat more tightly adjacent the lower portion thereof.

3. A card holder comprising, a base member having front, rear and side walls, a top wall characterized by an angularly disposed portion which terminates forwardly of the rear wall, whereby to provide an open area immediately in front of the rear wall, a pair of substantially horizontal guide members which are disposed on the inner surfaces of the side walls below said angularly disposed portion of the top wall, a card supporting member having a substantially horizontal portion which is slidably supported on said guide members and an angularly disposed portion which extends upwardly from the rear edge of said horizontal portion through said open area of said base member, said angularly disposed portions of said base member and said card-supporting member being approximately parallel to each other, and resilient means urging said card-supporting member toward the front wall of the base member whereby a stack of cards which is supported edgewise on the horizontal portion of said card supporting member is resiliently gripped between said angularly disposed portions of said base member and said card-supporting member.

4. A card holder comprising, a base member having front, rear and' side walls, a top wall which extends rearwardly from the front wall and is characterized by a downwardly and rearwardly inclined portion which terminates forwardly of the rear wall, a pair of generally horizontal guide members disposed on the inner surfaces of the side walls below the lower edge of said inclined portion of the top wall, a card-supporting member which is approximately the same width as said base member, said card-supporting member having a generally horizontal portion which is slidably supported on said guide members and an inclined portion which extends upwardly and forwardly from the rear edge of said generally horizontal portion, said inclined portion of said card-supporting member being. disposed rearwardly of said inclined portion of the top wall of said base member and diverging slightly away therefrom in an upward direction, and spring means connected between the front wall of the base member and said card-supporting member whereby a stack of cards which is supported edgewise on the generally horizontal portion of said card-supporting member is resiliently gripped between the inclined portions of saidbase member and said card-supporting member, the divergence of the inclined portions of said base member and said .card supporting member resulting in said cards being gripped most tightly adjacent their lower edges.

5. A card holder comprising, a base member having front, rear and side walls, a top wall which is characterized by a generally horizontal front portion, an upwardly .andrearwardly inclined portion extending therefrom, and. a downwardly and rearwardly inclined portion which extends from vthe upper edge of said first mentioned inclined portion and which terminates forwardly of the rear wall, whereby to provide an open area immediately .in front of the rear wall, a pair of substantially horizontal guide members which are disposed on the inner surfaces of the side walls below the lower edge of said downwardly and rearwardly inclined portion of the top wall, a card-supporting member having a substantially horizontal portion which is slidably supported on said guide members and an inclined portion which extends upwardly from the rear edge of said substantially horizontal portion through said open area of said base member, said inclined portion of said card supporting member diverging slightly in an upward direction from said downwardly and rearwardly inclined portion of the top wall of the base member, and means resiliently urging said card-supporting member toward the front wall of said base member whereby a stack of cards which is adapted to be supported edgewise on the substantially horizontal portion of said card-supporting member will be resiliently gripped between said diverging portions of the top wall of said base member and said card-supporting member, said stack of cards being adapted to be g pped most tight y adjacent the lower portion thereof due to the divergence of the inclined portions of said base member and said card-supporting member.

6. A card holder comprising, a base member having front, rear and side walls, a top wall which is characterized by a generally horizontal front portion, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion extending therefrom, and a downwardly and rearwardly inclined portion which extends from the upper edge of said first mentioned inclined portion and which terminates forwardly of the rear wall, whereby to provide an open area immediately in front of the rear wall, a pair of substantially horizontal guide members which are disposed on the inner surfaces of the side walls below the lower edge of said downwardly and rearwardly inclined portion of the top wall, a card-supporting member having a substantially horizontal portion which is slidably supported on said guide members and an inclined portion which is approximately the same size as the cards to be supported in the card holder and which extends upwardly from the rear edge of said substantially horizontal portion through said open area of said base member, said inclined portion of said card-supporting member diverging slightly in an upward direction from said downwardly and rearwardly inclined portion of the top wall of the base member, means resiliently urging said card-supporting member toward the front wall of said base member whereby a stack of cards which is supported edgewise on the substantially horizontal portion of said card-supporting member is resiliently gripped between said diverging portions of the top wall of said base member and said cardsupporting member, the dimension along the inclined portion of said card-supporting member being substantially twice the dimension along said downwardly and rearwardly inclined portion of the top wall of the base member whereby substantially the upper halves of the resiliently gripped cards project above said inclined portions of the top wall of said base member, and a pair of rearwardly and inwardly turned flangev members which are formed one on each inclined side edge of the inclined portion of said card-supporting member whereby to receive a card-like calendar on the rearwardly facing surface of the inclined portion of said card-supporting member.

7. A card holder comprising, a base member having front, rear and side walls, a top wall which is characterized by a generally horizontal front portion, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined portion extending therefrom, and a downwardly and rearwardly inclined portion which extends from the upper edge of said first mentioned inclined portion and which terminates forwardly of the rear wall, whereby to provide an open area immediately in front of the rear wall, a pair of substantially horizontal guide members which are disposed on the inner surfaces of the side walls below the lower edge of said downwardly and rearwardly inclined portion of the top wall, a card-supporting member having a substantially horizontal portion which is slidably supported on said guide members and an inclined portion which extends upwardly from the rear edge of said substantially horizontal portion through said open area of said base member, said inclined portion of said card-supporting mem-v ber diverging slightly in an upward direction from said downwardly and rearwardly inclined portion of the top wall of the base member, and means resiliently urging said card-supporting member toward the front wall of said base member, the portions of said side walls which extend rearwardly of said inclined portions of the top Wall of said base member having a height substantially equal to the uppermost meeting edges of the inclined portions of the top wall of said base member whereby said side walls and said diverging portions of said cardsupporting member and the top wall of said base member provide an adjustable open-top pocket for resiliently gripping a stack of cards adapted to be supported edgewise on the substantially horizontal portion of said cardsupporting member.

8. A card holder having an adjustable pocket for the reception of a stack of cards comprising, a base member having front, rear, and side walls, a top wall characterized by a generally horizontal front portion and an inverted V-shaped portion which terminates forwardly of the rear wall, whereby to provide an open area immediately in front of the rear wall, the rear portions of said side walls extending upwardly to a height substantially flush with the uppermost portion of said inverted V- shaped portion of the top wall, a card-supporting member having a substantially horizontal portion which is slidably supported within the base member below the inverted V-shaped portion of the top wall thereof for movement forwardly and rearwardly of the base member, said card-supporting member having an angularly disposed portion which extends upwardly from the rear edge of said horizontal portion through said open area of said base member, means resiliently urging said card-support ing member toward the front wall of said base member, and an adjustable pocket for the reception of a stack of cards, said pocket being defined by said card-supporting member and said side walls and inverted V-shaped portion of the top wall of said base member, said stack of cards being adapted to be supported edgewise on the sub stantially horizontal portion of the card-supporting member and to be resiliently gripped between the inverted V-shaped portion of the top wall of the base member and the angularly disposed portion of said card-supporting member.

Woodbury Aug. 8, 1854 Wheeler June 19, 1928 

